29. Amelia
Chapter 29
Amelia
F rom the office window, I watched Matteo pull out of the driveway and take off down the road. I smiled to myself as I thought of how lucky I was to have a man like Matteo. He rushed to protect me when he saw Lucas was being aggressive with me.
Plus, he didn’t fall for Ivy’s obvious attempt to split us up. I just knew she was oozing with joy when she told Matteo I was out with another man. Little did she know that he would come to my rescue and bring me lemon squares.
I inhaled the delicious treats as I walked back to my desk. Matteo had always been incredibly thoughtful, and I felt touched every time he went out of his way to make me happy. There was a reason I hadn’t been able to love any other man even after five years of being apart.
No man had ever treated me the way Matteo did. He was thoughtful and kind. He showed me more consideration than anyone ever had. He also valued my opinion, unlike my parents. Being with him made me happy. So happy that I almost considered not confronting Ivy.
Almost.
I’d had enough of her and her jealousy. I was tired of letting her mess with my life and my relationship. I spent the elevator ride to her floor of the building wondering what I would say to her when I finally confronted her. I didn’t have all the words, but I knew I had to put her in her place.
I stopped in front of her desk and glared down at her. “Why did you tell Matteo where I was?”
In truth, I couldn’t be angry with her for revealing the truth to Matteo. If anything, I was grateful. If she hadn’t told Matteo, then who knows what Lucas would have done. I could still feel the tight grip he had on my arm. If Matteo hadn’t arrived, he might have done something worse.
Still, I knew Ivy didn’t tell Matteo the truth because she had any interest in helping me. She told him where I was because she hoped that seeing me with another man would be enough reason for Matteo to break up with me. She was trying to ruin our relationship, and I wouldn’t take that sitting down.
“Oh, did you not want him to know that you were having lunch with someone else?” she asked as she smiled deviously. “I was only trying to help.”
“No, you weren’t. Look, I don’t have time to argue this with you. Just stay out of my business for the foreseeable future or we will have a problem. I’ve done my best to ignore your little tricks, but I’ve had enough. Don’t try me again.”
My fingers were shaking and my heart was beating out of control but I kept my voice steady. Growing up with parents who often stifled my voice meant I hated confrontation, but I had to push myself because Ivy needed to be set straight.
She remained silent as I walked away. I took her silence for compliance. Hopefully, it meant her schemes against me would end.
I spent the rest of my day working while snacking on the lemon squares Matteo got me. Working was a lot easier when I did it with a delicious snack. After work, I took a cab back to the penthouse. Without even meaning to, my eyes searched for Matteo.
He typically wasn’t home around this time but a part of me hoped he’d made an exception today. I missed him even though we saw each other just a few hours ago. Loving him meant that I had an unending desire to be around him.
I walked through the house, pausing in my room to drop my things before heading to Matteo’s room to check on him. He wasn’t there. I went to the kitchen, but he wasn’t there either.
Agnes also wasn’t there. I assumed she was with her daughter and grandchild. She’d promised to bring the baby over someday. I was looking forward to meeting her. I loved babies. They’re so pure and innocent. It made me want to do everything for them.
I hoped Matteo and I would have a baby someday. I looked forward to spoiling that little girl or boy. I also looked forward to giving them a place where their voices can thrive. I planned to listen to them and trust the decisions they would make later in life. I planned to give them everything my parents never gave me.
I walked down the hallway, checking each room as I went. Then it suddenly dawned on me where Matteo might be. He typically spent a lot of time in his study working. I hardly ever entered the room because I knew he went there to focus.
I made an exception today because I was eager to see him. I pushed the door to the study open, my excitement building as I thought about running over to kiss him. Sadly, my dreams were dashed when I walked into an empty room.
Matteo wasn’t there. If he wasn’t here, then it meant he still hadn’t come back from work. I stepped deeper into the room, taking my time to glance at the books on the shelf. Some were classic works of fiction like Wuthering Heights , Pride and Prejudice , and The Great Gatsby . The rest were self-help books and books on business.
I stopped in front of his desk and ran my finger over the spotless mahogany table. It felt nice to be in his space but I didn’t want to intrude. This room was sacred to him. I was about to turn and leave when my eye caught a small velvet box sitting at the edge of the table.
My curiosity forced my hand and I reached for it without thinking. It was a ring box. I turned it around as my mind raced with possibilities. I wondered why Matteo had a ring box in his study.
Inside the box, I found the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen. It was a delicate piece of jewelry made all the more beautiful due to its intricate design. The small gold ring band shun brightly, serving as a mesmerizing contrast to the emerald gem that sat in its center.
I fell in love with the ring the moment I saw it but my heart broke when I realized something crucial. Matteo and I had only just gotten together. The ring couldn’t possibly be for me.
Was there someone else? Did he fall in love with another woman while we were apart? Was this ring for her?
The questions clouded my mind as I walked out of the room, jewelry box in hand. I sat in the living room waiting for Matteo to get home. I needed an explanation. I needed to know if there had been someone else. Someone he loved enough to propose to.
When the elevator doors finally slid open, my heart felt heavy. I looked up at Matteo. He was smiling but his smile fell when he saw me. I must have looked crazy sitting there with the velvet jewelry clutched within my fist.
I stood up and opened my hand so he knew exactly what I was holding. “Who is this ring for? Is there someone else? Did you love some other woman enough to want to marry her?”
He stared at me in shock for a long moment. My breath stilled as I waited for him to respond. Was I truly ready to hear the truth? Could I handle knowing he’d loved another woman?
When Matteo finally spoke, his words were a soft whisper. “The ring is for you, Amelia.”
“What? When did you… ”
My words trailed off. I didn’t know how to respond to that.
Matteo sighed. “I bought the ring for you five years ago. I was going to propose to you that day in the park. The day you ended things with me, this ring was in my pocket.”
His words hit me like a freight train. I fell back onto the couch because my feet couldn’t hold me up anymore. Matteo was going to propose the day I broke up with him. I’d broken his heart while the ring he bought for me sat in his pocket. It sounded so awful.
I didn’t even realize when a single tear streamed down my face. My tears fell in quick succession and a sob racked my body. I looked up at Matteo again. He was kneeling by my side. He’d rushed over to me the moment I fell on the couch.
“I’m… I’m so sorry,” I said, my voice breaking as I cried. “Please f-forgive me.”
Matteo wiped my tears. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m not angry with you. Maybe I was before but I’ve let all of that go. The past doesn’t matter to me anymore. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I tried to make my tears stop but they poured out relentlessly. It was as if I was crying all the tears I hadn’t cried in years. I cried for us. We’d lost so much time because I listened to my parents and let go of the only man I’d ever loved. I cried for Matteo. I couldn’t imagine how painful it must have been to have your girlfriend dump you when you were about to propose to her.
Lastly, I cried for myself. I cried for the love I’d lost years ago and the version of myself who had been too weak to fight for that love. I wasn’t weak anymore. I planned to fight for this love forever. I would never let anything come between us again.
I looked up at Matteo and he wiped my tears before speaking. “I can change the ring if you’d like. I can get you something more remarkable and more fitting of your—”
“No!” I shouted, cutting him off abruptly. “Please don’t change it. This ring is perfect. I don’t want another one.”
I couldn’t imagine having any other ring on my finger. This was the one I wanted. The ring was a testament to how much he knew me and how much he loved me. The emerald gem was a match for my green eyes and the delicate gold band was beautiful. It truly was perfect.
I couldn’t believe he’d kept this ring for me all these years. That could only mean one thing. Matteo never stopped loving me. Even though we were apart, his heart was still with me and mine was with him.
“In that case,” Matteo said, his voice bringing me out of my thoughts. He reached for the ring box. “I was planning something a bit more—”
I cut him off again. I needed him to understand that just being with him was enough. I didn’t want anything more. “I don’t want more, Matteo. I just want you.”
He smiled at me. Then he opened the ring box. “Amelia Pierson, will you marry me?”
I didn’t even have to think about my answer. It burst out of me. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
Matteo slipped the ring onto my finger. It was a perfect fit. He stood up and pulled me into his arms. We kissed and, in that moment, I felt complete. It felt like I’d finally found what I’d been missing all these years.
Being apart from him was like walking around with half a heart. Now my heart was complete. He made me whole again and I never wanted anything to separate us. I wouldn’t allow it.
I was going to spend the rest of my life loving this man. No matter what comes our way I promise to love him always and forever.
Look at me, already saying my vows, I thought with a smile.
I looked at the ring and then back at my fiancé. I couldn’t wait to be his wife and soon, I would be. Soon I would be Mrs. Hayes.
Mrs. Amelia Hayes.
It had a nice ring to it.